Game, set, match: New tennis center to open

Local supporters raised about $330,000 to build the new Eagle Ram Tennis Center, which is located just north of Ruckel Middle School.

By LAUREN SAGE REINLIE | Daily News

Published: Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at 03:29 PM.

NICEVILLE — The new Eagle Ram Tennis Center will open to players for the first time this weekend, a major milestone for a project three years in the making.

The courts will host a USTA Youth tennis tournament on Saturday and officially open to the public on Monday.

Volunteers were busy over the holiday weekend, placing benches and other finishing touches on the seven new courts located just north of Ruckel Middle School. City of Niceville crews worked through the week to pave the parking lot.

“It really is a dream come true,” said Cici Hruby, one of the many volunteers who have worked hard to bring the project to fruition. “A bunch of us got together and we had this vision. We could see what could happen and now it’s here, we did it. It’s exciting.”

For most of the past three decades, tennis teams from Ruckel and Niceville High School have roamed tennis centers around the area, never finding a permanent home for practice and tournaments. In 2011, the teams’ coaches and others got together, hoping to change that and give the community a place to play the game, as well.

People rallied behind the effort, raising about $330,000.

“This is going to be great for the kids and it will be interesting to see how the tennis center develops now that it’s opening,” said Chris Poate who coaches the Niceville High team, “Hopefully it will become a little hub for the kids after school.”

Organizers plan to hold a grand opening once all the final touches have been made. Eventually, they hope to raise additional money to light the courts.

NICEVILLE — The new Eagle Ram Tennis Center will open to players for the first time this weekend, a major milestone for a project three years in the making.

The courts will host a USTA Youth tennis tournament on Saturday and officially open to the public on Monday.

Volunteers were busy over the holiday weekend, placing benches and other finishing touches on the seven new courts located just north of Ruckel Middle School. City of Niceville crews worked through the week to pave the parking lot.

“It really is a dream come true,” said Cici Hruby, one of the many volunteers who have worked hard to bring the project to fruition. “A bunch of us got together and we had this vision. We could see what could happen and now it’s here, we did it. It’s exciting.”

For most of the past three decades, tennis teams from Ruckel and Niceville High School have roamed tennis centers around the area, never finding a permanent home for practice and tournaments. In 2011, the teams’ coaches and others got together, hoping to change that and give the community a place to play the game, as well.

People rallied behind the effort, raising about $330,000.

“This is going to be great for the kids and it will be interesting to see how the tennis center develops now that it’s opening,” said Chris Poate who coaches the Niceville High team, “Hopefully it will become a little hub for the kids after school.”

Organizers plan to hold a grand opening once all the final touches have been made. Eventually, they hope to raise additional money to light the courts.